The office party is coming up. Someone has to sort the food. That someone is usually you. The good news is that an office party takeaway solves the problem without anyone touching a cooker. It is convenient. It is affordable. It offers variety for every taste. And it lets the whole team share a meal without the stress of cooking.
The best office party food ideas cover all the bases. Pizza for the safe crowd. Indian curries for the adventurous. Chinese dishes for sharing. Vegetarian options for the plant-based crew. Platters for easy serving. This guide walks through the dishes that work, how to choose them, and how to order enough without wasting money. If you need help feeding a crowd, our best takeaway for large groups guide covers the logistics in detail.
Best Office Party Takeaway Dishes for Every Taste
Not every dish works for an office crowd. You need food that travels well, serves easily and pleases the most people. Here are the dishes that consistently deliver.
Pizza: The Ultimate Office Party Favourite
Pizza is the safest bet in the history of office food. It arrives hot. It cuts into slices. Everyone can take what they want. Order a mix. Margherita for the purists. Pepperoni for the meat eaters. BBQ chicken for something bolder. Vegetable pizza for the vegetarians.
Go for large or extra-large sizes. A 16-inch pizza feeds four to six people. Order two or three varieties so nobody is stuck with a topping they hate. Most pizza places do party bundles that work out cheaper per slice. Browse pizza takeaways near you to find the best options.
Indian Takeaway: Curries, Rice and Naan
Indian food is built for sharing. A few curries, a big tray of rice, a stack of naans and some samosas. That is a party spread. Chicken tikka masala for the mild crowd. Vegetable biryani for the vegetarians. Paneer curry for something different. Samosas and onion bhajis for starters.
Order mild and spicy options. Not everyone can handle a vindaloo. Pilau rice is a safe base. Garlic naan is always popular. If your team is new to Indian food, our guide to the best Indian dishes for beginners helps you pick crowd-pleasers. Find your local on the Indian takeaways page.
Chinese Takeaway: Popular Dishes for Groups
Chinese food is another natural choice for food for large office groups. Chow mein. Egg fried rice. Sweet and sour chicken. Crispy beef. Vegetable spring rolls. The beauty of Chinese takeaway is that everything comes in sharing boxes. You open the lids, line them up on the table and let people dig in.
Combination dishes save you ordering ten separate items. Most Chinese takeaways do set meals for four, six or eight people. These bundles include a mix of starters, mains, rice and sides. They are usually better value than ordering a la carte. Search Chinese takeaways on ChefOnline to find options near your office.
Burgers, Wraps and Sandwich Platters
For a more casual office celebration, handheld food works perfectly. Mini burgers. Chicken wraps. Falafel wraps. Assorted sandwiches. These are easy to eat while standing, talking or playing office party games.
Sandwich platters are the most practical option for a working lunch. They come pre-cut. They cover multiple fillings. They do not need heating. Order one platter for every five to six people.
Sushi and Japanese-Inspired Sharing Platters
Sushi is a lighter option that has grown in popularity for office parties. Sushi rolls. Vegetable maki. Gyoza. Chicken katsu. Mixed platters give you a bit of everything without the heaviness of a curry or a pizza.
Sushi works well for afternoon celebrations or teams that prefer lighter food. It also covers vegetarian and pescatarian diets naturally.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Sharing Dishes
Falafel. Hummus. Grilled chicken skewers. Flatbreads. Mezze platters. This style of food is made for sharing. It is naturally vegetarian-friendly. It looks colourful on the table. And it caters for mixed dietary needs without anyone feeling left out.
Mezze spreads work for both casual and slightly more formal office events. The communal style of eating also gets people talking, which is exactly what an office party should do.
Party Snacks, Sides and Desserts
Do not forget the extras. Chicken wings. Loaded chips. Garlic bread. Savoury pastries. These fill the gaps between the main dishes and keep people grazing.
For dessert, brownies, cookies, cupcakes and mini desserts are easy to serve and universally popular. Order a mixed dessert box so people can pick what they fancy. If you are planning a seasonal event, our Indian food for a Halloween party guide shows how themed takeaway menus work for any celebration.
How to Choose the Right Takeaway for Your Office Party
Match the Food to Your Office Celebration
The food should match the occasion. A casual team lunch needs sandwiches or pizza. A birthday celebration can go bigger with curries and sharing platters. A leaving party might call for something special. Christmas celebrations need volume and variety. Match the food to the mood.
Consider Your Team Size and Food Preferences
Small teams of five to ten people can order individual meals without much waste. Medium groups of ten to twenty are better with sharing platters and mixed menus. Large office parties of twenty plus need buffet food for office parties with multiple cuisines laid out for self-service. Always ask your team what they want before you order. A quick poll saves arguments later.
Cater for Different Dietary Requirements
Vegetarian office party food is no longer optional. It is essential. So is vegan, halal and gluten-free coverage. Ask your team about allergies and diets before ordering. Check allergen information with the restaurant. The UK Food Standards Agency publishes guidance on food allergies that helps you understand what to look for.
Make sure dietary options are clearly labelled on the table. Nobody wants to guess which curry is vegetarian.
Affordable Office Party Takeaway Ideas for Different Budgets
Budget-Friendly Takeaway Options
You do not need to spend a fortune. Pizza bundles are the best value per head. A large pizza costs around £15 to £20 and feeds four to six people. That is roughly £3 to £5 per person. Sandwich platters are similarly cheap at £4 to £6 per head. Rice dishes like biryani or pilau stretch far. Mixed snack boxes with wings, chips and spring rolls fill gaps for around £3 per person.
Sharing Platters vs Individual Meals
Sharing platters are cheaper per head and reduce food waste. Everyone takes what they want. Individual meals cost more but give better portion control. Use platters for groups of ten or more. Use individual meals for smaller teams where preferences vary widely.
How Much Takeaway Food Should You Order?
For 10 colleagues, order three to four main dishes, two sides, one dessert option. For 20 colleagues, double that. Six to eight mains, four sides, two dessert options. For 50 colleagues, think buffet. Ten to twelve mains across two cuisines, eight sides, three dessert options. Always add a 10% buffer. Leftovers are better than hungry colleagues.
Tips for Ordering Takeaway for a Large Office Group
Plan Ahead and Confirm Delivery Times
Order at least 24 hours ahead for groups of ten or more. Confirm the delivery window with the restaurant. Make sure someone is in the office to receive the food. Check that the restaurant can handle the volume. Not every takeaway can produce 50 meals at short notice.
Organise Food for Easy Serving
Set up a serving area before the food arrives. Clear a table. Lay out plates, napkins and serving utensils. Separate dietary options so they are easy to identify. Plan your waste disposal too. Bins, recycling, wipes for sticky fingers. A bit of prep makes the whole thing run smoothly.
Keep Food Fresh and Safe
Hot food should be served within 30 minutes of delivery. If it sits longer, it drops below safe temperature. Cold food should stay chilled until serving. Label allergens clearly. If in doubt, ask the restaurant for allergen information when you order. The Food Standards Agency has detailed guidance on safe food handling for events.
FAQs
What is the best takeaway for an office party?
Pizza is the most universal crowd-pleaser. Indian curries with rice and naan are great for sharing. Chinese takeaway boxes work well for groups. The best takeaway for office party events depends on your team’s preferences, dietary needs and budget.
How much food should I order for an office party?
Plan for one and a half portions per person. For 10 people, order three to four sharing mains plus sides. For 20 people, six to eight mains plus sides and desserts. Always add a 10% buffer for big eaters.
What are good vegetarian office party food options?
Vegetarian pizza, vegetable biryani, paneer curry, falafel wraps, hummus and mezze platters, vegetable spring rolls and vegetable maki sushi. Most takeaways now offer vegetarian and vegan options across all cuisines.
How far in advance should I order office party takeaway?
Order at least 24 hours ahead for groups of ten or more. For groups of 20 plus, give the restaurant 48 hours notice. Confirm the delivery time on the day to avoid surprises.
What is a good budget per person for office party food?
Budget around £5 to £8 per person for pizza or sandwich platters. £8 to £12 per person for Indian or Chinese sharing meals. £12 to £15 for premium options like sushi or mezze platters. Always check for set meal deals that bring the per-head cost down.
Final Thoughts
The best office party takeaway covers three things. Variety. Budget. Dietary inclusivity. Pizza, Indian curries, Chinese sharing boxes, sandwich platters and mezze spreads all do the job. Pick the one that fits your team.
Order early. Confirm dietary needs. Label everything. And use a platform that makes ordering simple. Start browsing on ChefOnline to find local takeaways that can handle your office party order.
